Saturday, February 18, 2012

It's Shocking But True - Failure Can Be Good for Business - 7 Reasons Why

"Failure" - one of the most dreaded words in the English language, is for most not an option. Simply mentioning it as an option may sound foolish; even insane to a seasoned entrepreneur. Especially when it comes to business. Because - really - who wants to fail?

And when it comes to business failure, even simple ones, it's enough to stop many a biz owner cold. No re-thinking; no desire to regroup. Instead scrapping the questionable idea, product or service. Worried even a fully reorganized scenario might cause added financial problems, loss of clients and stature. That others may perceive them as poor decision makers, taking inappropriate risks. Someone to be avoided.

That said, it's important to come to terms with failure.

It's always an integral part of life. Something which cannot be avoided. Whether you're investing time or money in a product or service, deciding on a new car, additional education, hiring a new employee, the decision you make always has risk attached to it.

Unfortunately the psychology behind failed risk is such most will avoid it at all costs. There's no doubt it's hard to reorganize, go forward optimistically. Make the most of the resulting negativity. What can hamper you moving forward could also be your alternate bouts of anger and misery over the outcome. The ruminating over your decision making capabilities or lack thereof.

It's important to understand each failure brings with it invaluable lessons which can help an entrepreneur become more effective; to better achieve their goals. It's no secret the most successful entrepreneurs embrace it. Think about the huge risks entrepreneurs like Jobs, Gates, Buffet, film makers Spielberg and Lucas have taken. They've frequently failed miserably. Yet gathered themselves up and started again. Eventually thriving and prospering.

Further, if you've clearly thought out the risks, and understand the payoffs of those risks you're about to take - like they did - you have a greater chance of overcoming them. Rewarded once the goals you've planned for arrive.

How can failure be good for a business?

1. When it stops you from heading in a direction likely to bring financial loss.
2. Provides ideas you can tweak to better reach your goals.
3. Brings new investors and joint venture opportunities.
4. Presents visions for expansion, sales increases, new products or services.
5. Introduces viable models for revamping your business; bringing greater profits.
6. Shows you how to re-evaluate and move beyond a current problem.
7. Points you in the direction of the help or expertise you need.

Bear in mind what entrepreneur and author Ralph Heath says in his book "Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes and Thinking Big" - "Take action, move forward with your thoughts and ideas to accomplish something, instead of waiting for something - or nothing - to happen".

And remember, every failure brings with it seeds for success. But only if you first consider what happened, why it may have happened and what resulted. Only then will the failure provide you with practical, tangible business ideas. Along with methods for effectively dealing with the setback. And while failure can be ugly, never discount your own experience, and ability, to take up the gauntlet and advance once again.

It's Shocking But True - Failure Can Be Good for Business - 7 Reasons Why

"Failure" - one of the most dreaded words in the English language, is for most not an option. Simply mentioning it as an option may sound foolish; even insane to a seasoned entrepreneur. Especially when it comes to business. Because - really - who wants to fail?

And when it comes to business failure, even simple ones, it's enough to stop many a biz owner cold. No re-thinking; no desire to regroup. Instead scrapping the questionable idea, product or service. Worried even a fully reorganized scenario might cause added financial problems, loss of clients and stature. That others may perceive them as poor decision makers, taking inappropriate risks. Someone to be avoided.

That said, it's important to come to terms with failure.

It's always an integral part of life. Something which cannot be avoided. Whether you're investing time or money in a product or service, deciding on a new car, additional education, hiring a new employee, the decision you make always has risk attached to it.

Unfortunately the psychology behind failed risk is such most will avoid it at all costs. There's no doubt it's hard to reorganize, go forward optimistically. Make the most of the resulting negativity. What can hamper you moving forward could also be your alternate bouts of anger and misery over the outcome. The ruminating over your decision making capabilities or lack thereof.

It's important to understand each failure brings with it invaluable lessons which can help an entrepreneur become more effective; to better achieve their goals. It's no secret the most successful entrepreneurs embrace it. Think about the huge risks entrepreneurs like Jobs, Gates, Buffet, film makers Spielberg and Lucas have taken. They've frequently failed miserably. Yet gathered themselves up and started again. Eventually thriving and prospering.

Further, if you've clearly thought out the risks, and understand the payoffs of those risks you're about to take - like they did - you have a greater chance of overcoming them. Rewarded once the goals you've planned for arrive.

How can failure be good for a business?

1. When it stops you from heading in a direction likely to bring financial loss.
2. Provides ideas you can tweak to better reach your goals.
3. Brings new investors and joint venture opportunities.
4. Presents visions for expansion, sales increases, new products or services.
5. Introduces viable models for revamping your business; bringing greater profits.
6. Shows you how to re-evaluate and move beyond a current problem.
7. Points you in the direction of the help or expertise you need.

Bear in mind what entrepreneur and author Ralph Heath says in his book "Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes and Thinking Big" - "Take action, move forward with your thoughts and ideas to accomplish something, instead of waiting for something - or nothing - to happen".

And remember, every failure brings with it seeds for success. But only if you first consider what happened, why it may have happened and what resulted. Only then will the failure provide you with practical, tangible business ideas. Along with methods for effectively dealing with the setback. And while failure can be ugly, never discount your own experience, and ability, to take up the gauntlet and advance once again.

It's Shocking But True - Failure Can Be Good for Business - 7 Reasons Why

"Failure" - one of the most dreaded words in the English language, is for most not an option. Simply mentioning it as an option may sound foolish; even insane to a seasoned entrepreneur. Especially when it comes to business. Because - really - who wants to fail?

And when it comes to business failure, even simple ones, it's enough to stop many a biz owner cold. No re-thinking; no desire to regroup. Instead scrapping the questionable idea, product or service. Worried even a fully reorganized scenario might cause added financial problems, loss of clients and stature. That others may perceive them as poor decision makers, taking inappropriate risks. Someone to be avoided.

That said, it's important to come to terms with failure.

It's always an integral part of life. Something which cannot be avoided. Whether you're investing time or money in a product or service, deciding on a new car, additional education, hiring a new employee, the decision you make always has risk attached to it.

Unfortunately the psychology behind failed risk is such most will avoid it at all costs. There's no doubt it's hard to reorganize, go forward optimistically. Make the most of the resulting negativity. What can hamper you moving forward could also be your alternate bouts of anger and misery over the outcome. The ruminating over your decision making capabilities or lack thereof.

It's important to understand each failure brings with it invaluable lessons which can help an entrepreneur become more effective; to better achieve their goals. It's no secret the most successful entrepreneurs embrace it. Think about the huge risks entrepreneurs like Jobs, Gates, Buffet, film makers Spielberg and Lucas have taken. They've frequently failed miserably. Yet gathered themselves up and started again. Eventually thriving and prospering.

Further, if you've clearly thought out the risks, and understand the payoffs of those risks you're about to take - like they did - you have a greater chance of overcoming them. Rewarded once the goals you've planned for arrive.

How can failure be good for a business?

1. When it stops you from heading in a direction likely to bring financial loss.
2. Provides ideas you can tweak to better reach your goals.
3. Brings new investors and joint venture opportunities.
4. Presents visions for expansion, sales increases, new products or services.
5. Introduces viable models for revamping your business; bringing greater profits.
6. Shows you how to re-evaluate and move beyond a current problem.
7. Points you in the direction of the help or expertise you need.

Bear in mind what entrepreneur and author Ralph Heath says in his book "Celebrating Failure: The Power of Taking Risks, Making Mistakes and Thinking Big" - "Take action, move forward with your thoughts and ideas to accomplish something, instead of waiting for something - or nothing - to happen".

And remember, every failure brings with it seeds for success. But only if you first consider what happened, why it may have happened and what resulted. Only then will the failure provide you with practical, tangible business ideas. Along with methods for effectively dealing with the setback. And while failure can be ugly, never discount your own experience, and ability, to take up the gauntlet and advance once again.

Finding Cheap Ink for Your Business

Savings costs in these hard economic times seem to be imperative for most businesses. Finding cheap ink for your business will obviously result in huge cost savings. However, the printer ink market is very tricky. If it is not the astronomical prices of manufacturer's ink, then it maybe the low-quality third party ink. The perplexing thing is that while the inkjet printer is cheap, the prices of ink are very high. A user may thus be tempted to think that buying a new printer, which comes with free ink, would be a cheaper option. However, this would be wasteful. The truth is that you can save a lot of money by investing in cheap ink.

With the unsurpassed riches of information and products in the internet, you can be sure to find good quality and cheap ink. Buying online will not only allow you to compare the multiplicity of cheap ink vendors in the market, but you will also be able to read customer reviews. Make sure you compare ink prices and deal with authentic dealers. Even when buying cheap ink for your printer cartridges, quality will be of utmost importance.

The original equipment manufacturer's ink is very expensive. A major argument is that the manufacturer sells the printers at comparatively low prices, and then tries to offset the costs by selling the ink expensively. The only way to buy ink cheaply from the manufacturer would be in a sale or by using coupons. You can either get the coupons online, or while on the brick-and-mortar store.

However, the truth is that when buying the manufacturer's ink, you are just buying the brand name. If you want to save on ink for your printer cartridges, then you should opt for compatible cartridges. Compatible cartridges offer the same quality but at low prices. When buying cartridges, it is advisable to buy them in a value pack. This is because buying them in packs will cost much less than when buying the cartridge as a single unit.

Another alternative would be to invest in a refill kit or remanufactured cartridges. However, this will require you to follow the refill instructions to the letter in order for it to be successful. If you cannot find compatible cartridges, then you can invest in remanufactured cartridges. These cartridges have been previously used. They present a cheaper option, with good quality.

Even after buying the ink, it is imperative to use the ink wisely. For example, if the printer allows you to adjust its resolution, then it will be wise to lower it to about 300 dpi. This slows down the rate at which the printer uses ink, while at the same time giving a quality print. You will also need to use the preview option before printing. This helps to avoid unnecessary prints. It is also necessary to invest in a printer with lower ink costs. Finally, to save on costs, it is advisable to really reflect on whether you really need what you are about to print. You will be surprised at how much you can save from on ink costs.

Finding Cheap Ink for Your Business

Savings costs in these hard economic times seem to be imperative for most businesses. Finding cheap ink for your business will obviously result in huge cost savings. However, the printer ink market is very tricky. If it is not the astronomical prices of manufacturer's ink, then it maybe the low-quality third party ink. The perplexing thing is that while the inkjet printer is cheap, the prices of ink are very high. A user may thus be tempted to think that buying a new printer, which comes with free ink, would be a cheaper option. However, this would be wasteful. The truth is that you can save a lot of money by investing in cheap ink.

With the unsurpassed riches of information and products in the internet, you can be sure to find good quality and cheap ink. Buying online will not only allow you to compare the multiplicity of cheap ink vendors in the market, but you will also be able to read customer reviews. Make sure you compare ink prices and deal with authentic dealers. Even when buying cheap ink for your printer cartridges, quality will be of utmost importance.

The original equipment manufacturer's ink is very expensive. A major argument is that the manufacturer sells the printers at comparatively low prices, and then tries to offset the costs by selling the ink expensively. The only way to buy ink cheaply from the manufacturer would be in a sale or by using coupons. You can either get the coupons online, or while on the brick-and-mortar store.

However, the truth is that when buying the manufacturer's ink, you are just buying the brand name. If you want to save on ink for your printer cartridges, then you should opt for compatible cartridges. Compatible cartridges offer the same quality but at low prices. When buying cartridges, it is advisable to buy them in a value pack. This is because buying them in packs will cost much less than when buying the cartridge as a single unit.

Another alternative would be to invest in a refill kit or remanufactured cartridges. However, this will require you to follow the refill instructions to the letter in order for it to be successful. If you cannot find compatible cartridges, then you can invest in remanufactured cartridges. These cartridges have been previously used. They present a cheaper option, with good quality.

Even after buying the ink, it is imperative to use the ink wisely. For example, if the printer allows you to adjust its resolution, then it will be wise to lower it to about 300 dpi. This slows down the rate at which the printer uses ink, while at the same time giving a quality print. You will also need to use the preview option before printing. This helps to avoid unnecessary prints. It is also necessary to invest in a printer with lower ink costs. Finally, to save on costs, it is advisable to really reflect on whether you really need what you are about to print. You will be surprised at how much you can save from on ink costs.

Finding Cheap Ink for Your Business

Savings costs in these hard economic times seem to be imperative for most businesses. Finding cheap ink for your business will obviously result in huge cost savings. However, the printer ink market is very tricky. If it is not the astronomical prices of manufacturer's ink, then it maybe the low-quality third party ink. The perplexing thing is that while the inkjet printer is cheap, the prices of ink are very high. A user may thus be tempted to think that buying a new printer, which comes with free ink, would be a cheaper option. However, this would be wasteful. The truth is that you can save a lot of money by investing in cheap ink.

With the unsurpassed riches of information and products in the internet, you can be sure to find good quality and cheap ink. Buying online will not only allow you to compare the multiplicity of cheap ink vendors in the market, but you will also be able to read customer reviews. Make sure you compare ink prices and deal with authentic dealers. Even when buying cheap ink for your printer cartridges, quality will be of utmost importance.

The original equipment manufacturer's ink is very expensive. A major argument is that the manufacturer sells the printers at comparatively low prices, and then tries to offset the costs by selling the ink expensively. The only way to buy ink cheaply from the manufacturer would be in a sale or by using coupons. You can either get the coupons online, or while on the brick-and-mortar store.

However, the truth is that when buying the manufacturer's ink, you are just buying the brand name. If you want to save on ink for your printer cartridges, then you should opt for compatible cartridges. Compatible cartridges offer the same quality but at low prices. When buying cartridges, it is advisable to buy them in a value pack. This is because buying them in packs will cost much less than when buying the cartridge as a single unit.

Another alternative would be to invest in a refill kit or remanufactured cartridges. However, this will require you to follow the refill instructions to the letter in order for it to be successful. If you cannot find compatible cartridges, then you can invest in remanufactured cartridges. These cartridges have been previously used. They present a cheaper option, with good quality.

Even after buying the ink, it is imperative to use the ink wisely. For example, if the printer allows you to adjust its resolution, then it will be wise to lower it to about 300 dpi. This slows down the rate at which the printer uses ink, while at the same time giving a quality print. You will also need to use the preview option before printing. This helps to avoid unnecessary prints. It is also necessary to invest in a printer with lower ink costs. Finally, to save on costs, it is advisable to really reflect on whether you really need what you are about to print. You will be surprised at how much you can save from on ink costs.

Aligning Interests for Best Results

Brent's dream of having his website show up on the first page of Google search results was finally realized. The problem was that although this sounded like the ticket to big sales, his results were a disappointment. Why were his results so much less than expected? There were two causes, one was technical, the second was much more fundamental - misaligned interests. When your vendor's interests are not well aligned with yours, the results will always be disappointing. This is a fairly common dilemma that most business owners find themselves in and often they don't know what the root problem is or how to fix it.

The alignment of interests between your business and those who serve you is essential for the success of that business relationship. When there are conflicting interests, the results predictably end in disappointment.

Performance based pricing

In Brent's situation, his SEO specialists offered what seemed like a win-win pricing strategy. Performance based pricing. The problem with this was that the outcome that Brent was most interested in was increasing sales. High search engine ranking was just a means to that end. The specialists' interests were in achieving as many high rankings as possible, thus raising their level of compensation. In other words, the specialist would be content to achieve first page Google ranking on a lot of easy, low-competition, low traffic keywords. If you're in Brent's situation, find out what the average length of time your specialist keeps a client. This answer gives a lot of insight into whether your vendor defines success by long-term relationships.

Focus on aligning the outcomes that matter most

In Brent's situation, his primary goal is to increase sales. His secondary goal is to have a trusted partner that can take care of the search engine optimization process that is needed to increase traffic and sales online. He doesn't want to have to look for a new "trusted partner" every few months. The right specialist will be looking for a long-term relationship with their clients. Relationships don't last long-term unless both parties are getting their needs met. In other words a long-term relationship with a client is only possible for an SEO specialist if they are producing not just high rankings, but high rankings that result in increased sales for their clients. By aligning with a partner who values the same thing - a long term relationship that is built on results that are delivered, both parties win.

The alignment of interests in any relationship is critical for long term success. Aligning interests is essentially about making sure that each party achieves a win, not at the expense of the other, but with the help of the other. Think teamwork. The key to aligning interests is to make sure there is a connection between the outcomes that matter most for both parties. In other words, "are you working toward the same goals?"

Charles Ogwyn is passionate about helping small business owners grow through the power of the Internet. By combining his marketing background with his years of experience building and working with websites, he delivers the missing pieces of the puzzle that result in a business owner's dream come true.